In The Know: Natural Remedies to Reduce Sun Spots

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Sun spots, also known as sun freckles, age spots, liver spots or solar lentigines, are caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light from either the sun or a tanning bed rather than by aging. Sun spots can develop from not using sunscreen regularly or from not taking other measures to protect the skin, such as wearing a hat or long sleeves. Although sun spots are not cancerous, you may be more at risk for skin cancer. Even so, most people don’t want sun spots on their skin.

Sun spots is a common condition of hyperpigmentation in which patches of skin become darker in color than the surrounding skin. When you skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation, your skin naturally produces a brown pigment called melanin that makes your skin tan to help absorb the radiation in a safer way. However, overexposure to the sun without sunscreen can cause excess melanin deposits to form in the skin, leaving behind freckle-like spots that can become darker or more pronounced as your skin becomes exposed to the sun.

Although there are fade creams and laser treatments that will reduce or remove sun spots, they tend to be expensive and may contain bleach.

SunscreenThe easiest and most obvious way to prevent sun spots is to apply sunscreen of at least SPF 30 daily to your face, arms and shoulders before going outdoors. Sunscreen will also prevent any existing sun spots you have from growing larger and larger. Remember that the sun’s ultraviolet rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Aloe VeraThis transparent gel has been used for thousands of years to treat wounds and burns. Although there is no scientific consensus yet, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence supporting the effectiveness of aloe vera in reducing sun spots. Plus, aloe vera is natural, non-toxic when used externally, will not harm the skin, and is cheap to purchase. Apply aloe to your sun spots twice a day and watch them gradually fade away.

Vitamin C and EHigh levels of Vitamin C is a natural skin brightener, but you skin will be more sensitive to sunlight, so be sure to wear sunscreen. Vitamin E oil gives your skin moisture and antioxidants it needs for healing. When applied to sun spots, Vitamin E encourages your skin cells to regenerate. As an added bonus, Vitamin E oil smooths your skin and removes imperfections.

Lemon JuiceApply lemon juice directly to your sun spots, wait 15 minutes, and then rinse your skin. Lemon juice is safe and effective in lightening your skin. The sun spots should fade or disappear within a few weeks